So much to savor

We’re all re-calibrated. The kids nap in the middle of the day and stay awake until 10pm, which feels like an extravagance we can only afford for a few months each year.

We try to get up in the cool mountains as much as possible.

And to water—lakes, creeks, rivers—where we marinate our hot bodies in shivery snowmelt.

The tall kid is Col and Rose's cousin Peter, who's been visiting this week, along with all of Dan's family, which has been so fun, I've felt like I'm on vacation in my own town.

The optimist in me is like: wow, summer’s just starting, let’s jump in the river like 73 more times and go camping with all our friends every weekend and ride bikes everywhere and eat insane amounts of garden salads and weep over each ripe strawberry and watch every little mountain flower shuck off its jacket.

marsh marigold at 10,000 feet: swoon!

And the realist in me is like: June has come and gone in a flash. I know where this summer is headed.

And so, I’m going to scale back the time I spend writing this blog, so I can be here more, in this short Colorado season of summer.

My friend Amy took me here on Sunday morning, at precisely the time I would have been writing Monday's blog post that never happened. Oops.

And here more, too, with these little people who are so wonderfully amazing, whose very selves ring the high notes of my heart everyday.

And I want to tell you exactly when I’ll be back here, in this virtual space, like, every Wednesday with your morning coffee, guaranteed. But I also want to turn my own inner boss loose—the one that thinks if I don’t post regularly that you might leave—and give her the summer off. So, we’ll see.

And of course I love this little blog, and not-writing seems as much an option as say, not-breathing. So, we’ll see.

I already have so much more to tell you. Like how Dan’s elk hide got softened by two brothers (who look so much alike that when Rose was two she called Cory “Uncle Daddy”).

Or, how the sugar snap peas are so sweet it’s hard to imagine why anyone invented candy (okay, not that hard).

Or how Rose learned to ride a 2-wheeler and is so proud of herself, though Col will often crinkle up his face somberly and say, “but she still needs to learn a few things, like, about going straight on hills and watching where she’s going.”

Or how I can’t stand how cute the green onions are, waving their grassy adolescent leaves at me.

And the broccoli! Just starting to head up.

Last night I opened Col’s bedroom window and saw Dan, the man I still can’t believe I’m lucky enough to share my life with, shooting his bow between the peach tree and the potato patch, the chickens all gathered at their fence looking on curiously.

Take as much time as you need. I can assure you that we’ll still be here. Just promise to come back. :-) I feel so greedy for your writing! And your pictures! And your observations! There really IS so much to savor.
XOXO

Thanks for the inspiration to get out there and be a part of it all. I’ve noticed since starting to blog, that it’s hard not to frame some of life’s experiences in a “post” format… which has it’s benefits and drawbacks alike. However, living life savoring everything you can really is the gist of living well! I’ll miss any posts that fail to happen, and be so happy for you that you’re having summer, while here, it is raining and 54 degrees…. (Maybe if you’re really savoring the sun one bright day, you can have a little talk with him about making an appearance here in Humboldt, where he will be ever so appreciated and loved!)

Hi Rachel…Tim was in your neck of the woods fighting fires and I thought of you. Thank you for this post, for giving yourself permission to live where you are, with the loves of your life. I will still be here, no matter how much or little you post.:) with love, kris

Love the close with your window-peeking vision. Perfection.
Lovely garden photos, and I’m in love with the idea of snowmelt to cool a humid, sticky body.
It was warm here last week, warm and sunny like summer should be. This week, it’s grey and cloudy. Today Lucy said, “Summer last week was great. I had a lot of fun this summer. Now, I’m ready for snow and sledding and skiing and making snowmen.”
Well, everyone has their favorite season. Mine is summer — send it my way, please. I’ll show my middle gal that summer lasts a little longer than a week.

you go on and enjoy summer…i for one won’t leave, and will just appreciate your posts all the more. although i may need to find another source for experiencing summer vicariously, and having my heart uplifted by your achingly beautiful words.

Oh, good. We should all take a break from blogging in the summer. I for one have had a hard time keeping up with both my favorite blogs and my own. So let’s declare summer the one-post-per-week season! (Of course, that one post could be a longy.)

Yep, I totally get it! Do what you need to do. We’ll be here (or out enjoying our own version of summer!) I’m not following as many blogs as I did in the winter. I don’t have time to read them all, and I am out doing more real life! But I always make time for yours. Enjoy this fleeting season.

I’m curious to find out what blog system you’re using?
I’m experiencing some minor security problems with my latest website
and I’d like to find something more safeguarded.
Do you have any suggestions?